Two suffer stab wounds during fight at school

Published 6:00 pm, Saturday, January 2, 2010

Midland police were busy late Saturday investigating two stabbing incidents with victims who had come into the emergency room at Midland Memorial Hospital within minutes of each other.

Authorities said a 40-year-old father was stabbed outside Travis Elementary at 900 E. Gist Ave. around 8:12 p.m. MPD Sgt. Brian Rackow told the Reporter-Telegram the father overheard that a group of kids were going to get together and fight at the school and went to check on his son. He stepped in front of his son and was stabbed.

A second male victim, a 20-year-old, told police he was not involved in the fight at the school and was stabbed on South Colorado Street. He was taken by a friend to the hospital.

Investigators believe both victims were stabbed near the school. Police said a large group of young people had gathered there late Saturday evening. Crime scene officials were called to the scene around 9 p.m. to process evidence.

After the first victim arrived at MMH, an MPD officer tried to stop a suspect vehicle allegedly involved in the incident; but the driver would not pull over. Instead, officials said he led police on a high-speed chase west on Business 20 to Odessa.

Reports of speeds in excess of 100 mph were said to have been reached; Midland authorities called off the pursuit when they reached the Ector County line and notified Odessa police.

MPD investigators later said they believed the vehicle was not involved in the incident as originally thought and don't know why the driver fled.

As of press time, Rackow said no arrests had been made in either incident; neither victim's injuries appeared life-threatening.